Teachers bring Jesus into the classroom
By Janet Eaton
Another great year is shaping up!
In the life of a teacher, there is nothing like the first month of school. Teachers eat, sleep, and breathe “school.” They enter the year with many wonders! They have spent hours decorating their classrooms, setting procedures and schedules, and developing great lesson plans.
They know that from August to May, the students will spend more waking hours in a classroom than will be spent at home with their parents. From the teachers’ perspectives, the first month is filled with daily anticipation and wonder. The wonder of how the day and year will unfold? They wonder who will need an extra bit of encouragement, help, or affirmation? They wonder what the highlight of the year will be when their students look back.
In this diocese, we are blessed to have over 750 teachers from pre-K to 12th grade. I am convinced that each of these educators could absolutely land a different job, in or out of education. In a different school system, they might make more money. In a different career, they may worry less.
However that being said, I am also convinced that there is no better place to teach than in our Catholic schools. Inviting Jesus openly into every classroom lesson and every classroom occurrence is the difference maker. Our students know Jesus, they love him, and they are ready to serve him because of the undeniable love that our teachers have for our Lord.
On behalf of every educator, we are so very grateful for the manner in which the diocese prioritizes Catholic education. This can be noted in numerous ways and perhaps none as important right now as the attention being placed on teacher salaries in an effort to bring about future increases. The One Family Fully Alive in Christ! Capital Campaign is true evidence of this diocese’s determination to prioritize teachers.
From my seat, I am starting my seventh year as the superintendent and I could not be more thrilled, honored, and thankful. As the year gets underway, I join our educators with so many wonders.
Will the green or the blue take the Holy War games? Will there be any snow days? How many miles will the car travel this school year in order to be in all schools and most more than once? Will this year be like the others and in the blink of the eye it is May?
Eaton is the superintendent of Catholic Schools.